8 killed in rescue chopper crash in Indonesia

As per the reports from officials in Indonesia, a rescue helicopter crashed while heading to help evacuate residents near an active volcano on Indonesia’s main island, killing all eight people on board.

The aircraft reportedly hit a cliff on Butak Mountain in the Temanggung district of Central Java province. The helicopter crashed about three minutes before arriving at Dieng Plateau, the popular tourist area where the volcanic eruption Sunday injured at least 10 people.

More than a dozen tourists were visiting the Sileri Crater area when it erupted at about midday on Sunday, shooting cold lava, mud and smoke up to 50 meters into the air, as per the local reports.

The Sileri Crater remains closed to the public and tourists following the eruption, which Antara said was caused by “gas pressure” below the surface. There has been no report of death due to the volcanic eruptions.

The Sileri Crater at Dieng Plateau spewed cold lava, mud and ash as high as 50 meters (164 feet) into the sky when it erupted Sunday morning,

The victims of the helicopter crash were four navy officers and four rescuers. The authorities say that the Indonesian-made Dauphin AS365 helicopter was airworthy.